76 



MODERN HISTOEY. 



[Part VI. 



A.D. Talawe, in virtue of a Kandyan usage, proceeded to nomi- 



1798. nate, as his successor, a nephew of tlie queen, a boy 



eighteen years old, who ascended the throne as Wikrema 



Eaja Singha ; the last in the long hst of kings who reigned 



over Ceylon. 



Although the late king had died without ratifying 

 the treaty negotiated in 1796, the most amicable rela- 

 tions subsisted between his successor and the English, 

 and Mr. North was preparing to do honour to the new 

 sovereign by an embassy of unusual magnificence, when 

 communications of a most confidential nature were 

 opened with him by the Adigar. In the course of nu- 

 merous interviews with the governor, and his secretary, 

 Piltime Talawe avowed unreservedly his hatred of the 

 reigning Malabar family, his desire to procure the 

 death or dethronement of the king, and his ambition to 

 restore in his own person a national dynasty to the 

 Idngclom!^ Mi'. North, while he disclaimed participa- 

 tion in projects so treasonable, discerned in the designs 

 of the Adigar an opportunity for establishing a mih- 

 tary protectorate at Kancly with a subsidised British 

 force, on the model of the mediatised provinces of India ; 

 and it must be regretted that in the too eager pursint 

 of this object, Mi\ North not only forbore to denoimce 

 the treason of the minister, but lent himself to intrigues 

 inconsistent with the dignity and honour of his high 

 office. 



^•"- In the development of the Governor's plans the Adigar 

 was encouraged to disclose his designs for the nun of the 

 young king, whom it was liis intention to stimulate to 

 acts of atrocity such as would make him at once odious 

 to his own nation and hostile to the Enghsh, thus pro- 

 voking a war in which the Adigar was to profit by his 

 overthrow.^ Mr. North did not consider it unbecom- 



wlio now reipiis, was the work of 

 Pilanio, first minister, — a g^reat friend 

 of ours." — Letter, 27tli Oct., 1798, 

 Wellesley 3ISS., No. 13,8G6, p. 55. 



^ Pilame Talawe boast ihI his de- 

 scent from the royal line of Ceylon. 



"^ There are two works which may 

 be regarded as containing Mr. North's 



